Renovating
6 of the Best Before and After Open-Plan Transformations
Take a look at these cleverly designed renovations to find inspiration for opening up your own home
An open-plan room can create a feeling of space and connection within your home, but it can be tricky to visualise how best to plan the layout. Check out these completed projects to see how the architects and interior designers made smart choices to utilise each space effectively.
UK architect Richard Skinner of Archea decided to make better use of the space by opening up the two rooms and flipping the layout. Now, the kitchen sits where the dining room was previously located.
Find an architect near you on Houzz, read reviews and see images of their work
Find an architect near you on Houzz, read reviews and see images of their work
Skinner also decreased the floor area of an existing rear extension by creating a diagonal wall.
Surprisingly, the snipped corner makes the new room feel more spacious. The angled opening of the extension gives an uninterrupted view of the garden, and the bi-fold door opens all the way along.
2. The sideways transformation
A long space at the rear of this Victorian terrace was the original position for the kitchen. It gave the owners a view of the garden, but it was disconnected from the rest of the house.
The same architect involved in the previous project, Richard Skinner of Archea, was appointed to open up the space.
A long space at the rear of this Victorian terrace was the original position for the kitchen. It gave the owners a view of the garden, but it was disconnected from the rest of the house.
The same architect involved in the previous project, Richard Skinner of Archea, was appointed to open up the space.
Richard added a six-metre-long side-infill extension, which allowed him to move the dining zone into the open-plan area next to the kitchen.
The kitchen could stay in place, but the back doors have become a large picture window, while patio doors lead out from the dining space to the garden.
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Renovation Rescue: 9 Terrace Design Challenges and How to Solve Them
From the kitchen peninsula, the owners look directly towards the dining area in the new extension.
Now, plenty of light floods into the house, and the spaces feel more connected.
10 Smart Ways to Shine the Light on Your Terrace
10 Smart Ways to Shine the Light on Your Terrace
3. The freshened-up transformation
The structural change in this Edwardian home in London, UK, was quite straightforward – the wall between the living room and kitchen was removed to create a larger, open-plan space.
The structural change in this Edwardian home in London, UK, was quite straightforward – the wall between the living room and kitchen was removed to create a larger, open-plan space.
Designer Vickie Nickolls of Interior Therapy was then called in to give the whole room a makeover. She painted the walls white and used pastel tones to bring a fresh, cohesive feel to the space.
The kitchen was left in situ, but new, Shaker-style cabinet doors were added and an island was installed to break up the two spaces.
The kitchen was left in situ, but new, Shaker-style cabinet doors were added and an island was installed to break up the two spaces.
From the hallway, the new open-plan kitchen and living area looks light and inviting.
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Bright Ideas: How to Light Up Your Home’s Interiors Naturally
4. The 1960s transformation
London-based architect Almudena Navarro of Studio Wolter Navarro was originally called in at the end of a renovation to advise on fixtures and fittings. However, it soon became clear that a more radical transformation was needed, which involved opening up the narrow, enclosed kitchen.
London-based architect Almudena Navarro of Studio Wolter Navarro was originally called in at the end of a renovation to advise on fixtures and fittings. However, it soon became clear that a more radical transformation was needed, which involved opening up the narrow, enclosed kitchen.
The wall between the kitchen and living room was removed to create an open-plan kitchen/dining room.
A peninsula divides the two areas and the whole room feels light and airy. The simple layout is uncluttered, but Navarro was careful to bring in some character with the warm parquet flooring and interesting light fitting.
To create an open-plan family room, architect Chris Rodgers of Guy Taylor Associates decided to add an infill extension to the side of the building.
The new kitchen was installed in this area, and the living space was positioned at the rear, looking out to the garden.
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The building is heritage listed, so the architecture team had to leave the central chimney stack in place. Luckily, it works well in the space, as it helps divide the kitchen and seating zones.
6. The extra bedroom transformation
This ex-public housing apartment in the UK was quite simple to revamp, according to designer Katy Stevenson Bretton of Katy SB Design.
“The thing you find with local authority buildings is the flats are well-proportioned,” she says. “That’s why it’s easy to look at the floor plan and see how it can be improved, and how you can make the space work a bit harder.”
This ex-public housing apartment in the UK was quite simple to revamp, according to designer Katy Stevenson Bretton of Katy SB Design.
“The thing you find with local authority buildings is the flats are well-proportioned,” she says. “That’s why it’s easy to look at the floor plan and see how it can be improved, and how you can make the space work a bit harder.”
The floor plan shows how the apartment is now arranged, with a second bedroom added. Previously, there was a large living room with a dining room behind it, and the kitchen was located in what is now the second bedroom.
The designer moved the kitchen to the new, open-plan living space, choosing sleek, pale grey, handleless cabinets, and a peninsula facing out to the seating and dining areas.
Your turn
Which of these open-plan makeovers could work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more renovating advice? Read up on How to Find Your Kitchen Style
Your turn
Which of these open-plan makeovers could work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more renovating advice? Read up on How to Find Your Kitchen Style
In this Victorian terrace in London, UK, the dining room and kitchen were previously in two separate rooms. The dining room’s bay window looked out to the side return, and the kitchen was tucked behind a wall in the adjacent room.